Method Of Making An Item Of Clothing

ABSTRACT

A method of treating an article of clothing can include the steps of disposing a portion of embroidery on the article of clothing and abrading the portion of embroidery. The article of clothing itself can also be abraded. The portion of embroidery can be abraded before and/or after the embroidery portion is disposed on the article of clothing. The portion of embroidery can be disposed on the article of clothing by way of one or more needles to directly embroider on the article of clothing, or a patch can be directly embroidered, and then the patch can be attached to the article of clothing, or a fabric can be embroidered and attached to the garment, or the fabric itself can be made directly into a garment. The abrading can be accomplished by rubbing with a brush, rubbing with sandpaper, sand blasting, and/or chemical means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There exists a trend in which garments that are highly distressed and have a used or worn look are fashionable. This fashion trend has created a high demand for previously worn, distressed, and antique clothing.

Various methods of creating a vintage appearance in clothing or fabric have been created. These methods typically are directed at distressing relatively rugged fabrics such as, for example, the method of stone washing denim to create jeans with a vintage appearance.

Methods of creating a vintage appearance directed to relatively less rugged embroidered threads, yearns, pattern, designs, fabrics, or clothing has not been attempted, possibly, because the methods of distressing were thought to be too harsh to be applied to relatively delicate embroidery work.

In addition, consumers are always looking for new and interesting types and styles of clothing.

Therefore, a need exists for improved methods for treating and making items of clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention satisfy these and other needs by providing a method for making articles of clothing.

An embroidered portion or area is added to an article of clothing, such as, for example, a hat. The embroidery can form a design such as, for example, a cartoon character, logo, pattern, random design or shape.

Some of the threads of the embroidered portion are abraded and ripped by, for example, brushing or sanding. The abrading can give the embroidered portion both depth and loft. The resulting clothing item can thus be beneficially imparted with an attractive vintage appearance.

In some embodiments, a method of treating an article of clothing can include the steps of disposing a portion of embroidery on the article of clothing and abrading the portion of embroidery. The article of clothing itself can also be abraded. The portion of embroidery can be abraded before and/or after the embroidery portion is disposed on the article of clothing.

The portion of embroidery can be disposed on the article of clothing by way of one or more needles to directly embroider on the article of clothing, or a patch can be directly embroidered, and then the patch can be attached to the article of clothing.

The abrading of the embroidery can be accomplished by rubbing with a brush, rubbing with sandpaper, sand blasting, chemical means, pounding with rough stones and/or other means, as would be known to those of skill I the art, as informed by the present disclosure.

The article of clothing used can be, for example, a shirt, a hat, a pair of pants, a belt, a jacket and/or other types of articles of clothing. The embroidered portion can include an image of a cartoon character, as well as other images and forms.

Thus, by way of embodiments of the invention, an attractive clothing item can be made that has an embroidered portion having depth and loft, thus being beneficially imparted with an attractive vintage appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be understood from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments presented below, considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embroidered portion disposed on an article of clothing, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that the attached drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a method of treating an article of clothing, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. A portion of embroidery is disposed on an article of clothing, step S10. As is known in the art, embroidery is the art of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn, using a needle. Yams or thread used to create an embroidered portion on a clothing item can include one or more of rayon, polyester, cotton, wool, linen, as well as others, as are known to those of skill in the art.

The portion of embroidery is abraded, step S12. As used herein, abrading is the process of distressing or ripping the threads of the embroidered portion. Abrading the embroidered portion can beneficially give the embroidered portion an attractive appearance having both depth and loft.

In some embodiments, abrading can include one or more of: sanding either by hand or machine; with sand paper, sanding discs, sculpture bits, sand-blasting or any other sanding process; brushing; with wire or other type brushes; chemical or stone washes or other type washes; air blasting or other air processes; and/or other methods, as are known to those of skill in the art.

With reference to FIG. 2, a method in accordance with another embodiment is shown. In step S20, a portion of embroidery is disposed on an article of clothing. In step S20, the portion of embroidery is abraded. In step S24, the article clothing is also abraded. By abrading the article of clothing as well as the portion of embroidery, the appearance of the article of clothing can be made to aesthetically complement and be consistent in appearance with the abraded portion of embroidery.

The embroidered portion can be disposed or placed on an article of clothing in several ways. In some embodiments, the embroidery is directly stitched onto an article of clothing, garment or fabric. If stitched directly onto a fabric, the fabric can then be sewn directly onto a garment such as a belt, pant, jacket, shirt, hat, and/or other garments, as are known to those of skill in the art. Alternatively, an embroidered patch can be attached to the article of clothing, as is known to those of skill in the art.

FIG. 3 shows a method in accordance with other embodiments. In step S30, an embroidered patch is abraded. In step S32, the patch is disposed or placed on an article of clothing. In step S34, the article of clothing is also abraded.

With reference to FIG. 4 there is shown part of a clothing item 400 including an article of clothing 420 such as, for example, a shirt, with an embroidered portion 410, that has been abraded, disposed thereon, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

In some embodiments, the steps described herein can be performed in a different order than is described. For example, an embroidered patch can be abraded before the patch is attached to the article of clothing in some embodiments, while the embroidered patch can be abraded after the patch is attached to the article of clothing in other embodiments. In addition, in some embodiments, some of the described steps can be performed simultaneously.

In some embodiments, the article of clothing can be a hat or shirt, and the embroidered portion can include the image of a cartoon character. Alternatively, the embroidered portion can be a logo, pattern, random design or shape, such as a flower. Alternatively, the embroidered portion can incorporate the images of faces of, for example, television stars, sports personalities, presidents, rock music stars, as well as others.

Beneficially, by way of embodiments of the invention, an item of clothing can be imparted with a look which mimics an old, vintage embroidery. The resulting item of clothing can have an embroidered portion that is fluffy and fuzzy and has an enhanced three-dimensional appearance as compared with classic (flat) embroidery.

It is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiments can be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that all such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A method of treating an article of clothing, the method comprising the steps of: disposing a portion of embroidery on the article of clothing; and abrading the portion of embroidery.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of abrading the article of clothing.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of abrading the portion of embroidery occurs before the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of abrading the portion of embroidery occurs after the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of abrading the article of clothing.
 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of abrading the article of clothing.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing comprises using one or more needles to directly embroider on the article of clothing.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing comprises the steps of: using one or more needles to directly embroider on a patch; and attaching the patch to the article of clothing.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the abrading comprises rubbing with a brush.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the abrading comprises rubbing with sandpaper.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the abrading comprises sand blasting.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the abrading comprises chemical means.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is a shirt.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is a hat.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is a pair of pants.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the embroidered portion comprises an image of a cartoon character.
 17. A clothing item made by the method of: disposing a portion of embroidery on an article of clothing; and abrading the portion of embroidery.
 18. The clothing item of claim 17, the method of making the item further comprising the step of abrading the article of clothing.
 19. The clothing item of claim 17, wherein, in the method of making the item, the step of abrading the portion of embroidery occurs before the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing.
 20. The clothing item of claim 17, wherein, in the method of making the item, the step of abrading the portion of embroidery occurs after the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing.
 21. A method of making an article of clothing, the method comprising the steps of: making an article of clothing; disposing a portion of embroidery on the article of clothing; and abrading the portion of embroidery.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of abrading the article of clothing.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of abrading the portion of embroidery occurs before the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of abrading the portion of embroidery occurs after the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing.
 25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of abrading the article of clothing.
 26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of abrading the article of clothing.
 27. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing comprises using one or more needles to directly embroider on the article of clothing.
 28. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of disposing the portion of embroidery on the article of clothing comprises the steps of: using one or more needles to directly embroider on a patch; and attaching the patch to the article of clothing.
 29. A method of treating a portion of fabric, the method comprising the steps of: disposing a portion of embroidery on the portion of fabric; and abrading the portion of embroidery.
 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising attaching the portion of fabric to a garment.
 31. The method of claim 29, further comprising making the fabric into a garment. 